New graduate looking for work...

[tony51783]

Good evening everyone , my name is Anthony. I took the NCLEX December 2, 2014 . I had 265 questions and I passed it. It took me over 5 hours. I am looking for a job. I am not only an RN, I am also a paramedic. I recently renewed my license and I have both up to date. I am applying all over and I noticed that hospitals and other spots require experience. I still apply anyways and I make sure that I mention that I have paramedic experience. Even though it is not nursing experience but I do have experience in patient contact. It does not make sense how a new graduate can't find a job. I understand that I took the NCLEX 10 days ago and the year is about to be over in about 3 weeks. I understand that no one will hire over the christmas break but how do you expect for me to get experience when you don't even give me a chance. I have patient contact experience, that should put me up there. It is not logical how hospitals are asking for experience when there is a national SHORTAGE of nurses. Once a nurse gets too comfortable on where they are, they will stay there for years and most of them will not apply to other hospitals because of their comfort level. Why can't we new graduates get a chance. We are less prone to make mistakes because if a hospital hires me, will only know their way of doing things and no other way of doing it. What do you guys think?

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

Anthony,

As many have said, unfortunately it is very difficult for new graduate nurses to find a job in many areas of the country. It is more difficult for RNs with associate degrees to find jobs than it is for RNs with bachelors degrees. You are newly licensed and do have the advantage of prior patient care experience as a paramedic. This will work in your favor, however if a job requires previous nursing experience, they will not take you. Your best bet is to apply to all and any Nursing Jobs that do not specify that nursing experience is required or do not say that new graduate nurses need not apply. You are a paramedic. If you are still working, it wouldn't be so hard to strike up a conversation with some of the ED nurses next time you bring a patient in and see if they can get you in touch with their manager. Networking is very important when seeking a job. With your paramedic training, I expect some EDs would be interested in you if they are looking for a new grad nurse.

[Nienna Celebrindal]

First, you need some humility. I don't care if you have 30 years under your belt as a paramedic. It is not RN experience. I have a ton of other healthcare experience, including military experience where I had a wider scope of practice than I do as a nurse, and 6 months after becoming a nurse, I am still interviewing for hospital jobs.

Yup, another fellow Corpsman here, and I was an LVN for 12 years and I've been at this for going on 4 months. You are going to drive yourself nuts if you don't have some patience.

[Nienna Celebrindal]

Some new nurse grads struggle to find jobs | 89.3 KPCC